Orange Kitten's Heartwarming Rescue Story Is Bringing the Internet to Tears
The job of a pet foster parent is an important one. They selflessly rescue, care for, and let go of all the little angels in need of forever homes. And sometimes, one of those little angels makes a huge impression on the hearts of everyone who follows their journey. This is the story of Paprika, an orange rescue kitten who beat the odds and made the internet fall in love with her.
Paprika's time with her foster recently came to an end and it's sending people into an emotional spiral (it's me; I'm "people"). Take a look at how far baby Paprika came before venturing off to a new home!
When Erin Berger (@erin_fosters) first took in the adorable orange cat at the end of September, Paprika had been through a lot and she was clinging to life. Thanks to Erin's dedication to the tiny kitten, Paprika not only survived but has thrived, even becoming a part of 'Lemon' the foster cat's litter of two. After a few weeks of care, Erin's time with the family came to an end and the October 18 clip details how far they've all come—specifically sweet Paprika—before going off to a Colorado foster home through Animal Friends Alliance (@animalfriendsalliance).
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With so much love for the feisty kitten, the bittersweet update brought many of Erin's 279k followers to near tears.
"Tears streaming uncontrollable, some of course happy ones. I just wasn't quite ready for this. I will miss Paprika & Lemon & her bebes as long as I live. Thank you Erin for all you did to save," one person wrote.
"Totally not ready!! You did such an amazing saving her and getting the momma to accept her. We’ll miss you, Paprika & friends!" another said.
"I cried really hard right now. Go have a happy life, P and sweet family," another added.
It's because of loving fosters like Erin (who is now caring for new babies), so many kitties get a second chance at life, but Paprika and her shenanigans will definitely be missed.
Top Reasons to Foster if You're on the Fence
Though Paprika's off on a new adventure, Animal Friends Alliance says there are many benefits to becoming a foster. Whether it's for your shelter or a local rescue, there are always pets in need of a safe space while they await a forever home. It's also the only option for the animals who are too young or too ill to be in a shelter environment and need the love of a foster home to grow or get well.
First and foremost, fostering saves two lives by opening up critical space in a shelter. It's a good feeling to know that, because you offered your home for a pet in need, the shelter has space for another. The cycle continues, keeping all the sweet fur babies safe from euthanasia due to overcrowding.
By taking in cats and dogs to a nurturing environment, they receive individualized care where they can learn how to love, trust, and become who they're meant to be. For shy, unsocialized pets, this helps prepare them for a potential forever home by getting to know their quirks, likes, dislikes, and anything else that a potential adopter would want to know.
Those who've been in a shelter environment a long time deserve and need a break every now and then. Even if you only foster for the weekend, you're giving those long-time residents a much-needed sanity break so they can forget about the shelter and enjoy life for a bit. Their joy will be evident, so it's good for everyone involved.
Not everyone has the capability to foster, but if you can, you're saving lives like little Paprika so they can go on to love and be loved, just as they deserve.
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